Oakland’s Christina’s Trip calls their sound “distortion pop,” which is about as accurate a description as possible. Their latest single “My Friend” (below) is a fuzzy, bedroom-pop-leaning track that would sound at home on an Elephant 6 compilation (I stole the comparison from Joe) and totally drives the “distortion pop” description home.
Their debut LP, Forever After, comes out in July via Cherub Dream Records, and based on their two available singles, this is definitely on the list of albums not to miss. Enjoy.
San Francisco band Aluminum has finally unleashed its debut LP, Fully Beat, onto the world, and it’s not one to be taken lightly. Mark my words, this album is going to blow up!
Fully Beat is packed with fuzz, incredible male-female vocal harmonies, and an infectious groove held together tightly by Gonsalves (bass) and Natividad (drums), not to mention all the in-your-face guitar work one can handle.
Check out “Behind My Mouth” and “Everything” (below) for a taste.
Fully Beat is out tomorrow (05/24) via Felte. It’s a definite contender for album of the year, and it belongs in your collection. Enjoy.
Seasonal Falls is the new project from Switzerland-based songwriter Roman Gabriel, with vocal and production help from Andrew Pelletier (Fur Trader).
Their debut album, Happy Days, is nine tracks of warm, sometimes jangly, sometimes twangy guitar work behind Pelletier’s hushed vocals. Joe says they sound a bit like Ultimate Painting, and I agree.
Happy Days is self-released and out now via their Bandcamp page. I highly recommend checking out “Used To Be Fun” and “Girlfriend” below.
Happy Days is a great album to soundtrack your spring and summer evenings while chilling outside with a beverage and watching the sky get dark. Enjoy.
Netherlands 4-piece Geo answer that age old question “what if Mark E. Smith had fronted Talking Heads?”
Geo’s latest no-wave slab, Out of Body, answers that question.
Out of Body is ten tracks of post-punk, no-wave, weird-o goodness that is PACKED with groove. The rhythm section is TIGHT and holds things together while the guitars wind, shred, noodle and slice their way through.
Check out a couple of the standouts “Caught A Cricket” and “Wu Obt Fas” (below) for a taste.
Oakland’s Houses of Heaven are back with their sophomore LP, Within/Without. It’s 10 solid tracks of grimy, pulsating, dark wave, mingled with early industrial elements à la Nitzer Ebb and 80s-era Ministry. Think about your scariest nightmare, this album could soundtrack that nightmare.
Check out “Within/Without” and the album standout (IMO) “Deserve” featuring Ms. Boan Mariana Saldaña on vocals (below) for a tasting.
Within/Without is out on Friday (04/26/2024) via Felte Records. Cop it. Enjoy.
Featuring members of Sinks, Neo Neos, Citric Dummies, Color Tv, green/blue, Retainers, Dummy, the Soviettes, IV, and Awesome Snakes, the new single (below) “Car Accident” from Bermuda Squares could only kick ass—and it does!
Their debut LP Outsider hits the streets in May via Feel It Records and judging by the first single it’s going to be a doozy. Enjoy.
“HOLY SHIT!” That’s what I said to myself after every song on Montreal band Dissimulator’s debut LP, Lower Form Resistance—an awe-inspiring, 43+ minute assault on the senses. See my text below to my buddy Jason…
The musicianship within the band is almost otherworldly. They are tighter than an MFer. The constant pummeling from the kick drum alone is enough to beg for mercy and for MORE at the same time. The fact that they are making music like this as a three-piece is ridiculous!
Lower Form Resistance is out now on 20 Buck Spin. It’s amazing. It’s like Voivod gone death metal. It’s the best metal album I’ve listened to in years, possibly ever—that’s right, I just went there!
Phoenix, Arizona 4-piece Gemm are back with their latest EP, Spun Out—a 90’s alt rock throwback that immediately makes me think of bands like Hum and Far. Check out “Trying To Feel” and “Split” (below) for a taste of their nostalgic goodness.
Spun Out is out now on Protagonist Music and available via Gemm’s Bandcamp page and on vinyl from Protagonist.
Snag it. Roll down the windows of your Eagle Talon and crank it. Enjoy.
When you’re scrolling through many emails trying to get caught up but also not miss anything and you come across “CIRCLE JERKS x DESCENDENTS release split cover EP today…” you stop everything you are doing and buy it and immediately, anxiously anticipate its arrival.
The split EP is in honor of their co-headlining tour that starts on March 15 in Tempe, AZ (you can find the rest of the tour dates below). It’s just as amazing as you can imagine it to be. It has Descendents doing the Circle Jerks’ “Red Tape,” “I Want Some Skank,” and “Beverly Hills.” As well as Circle Jerks doing Descendents’ “Kabuki Girl” and “Hope.”
You can get this from the bands during the tour and online via Trust Records. It is not available in any other way. GO GET THIS NOW!
Circle Jerks + Descendents Live Dates:
March 15 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre (SOLD OUT) March 16 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater (SOLD OUT) March 17 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace March 19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues March 20 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center March 22 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s (SOLD OUT) March 23 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues (SOLD OUT) March 24 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom (SOLD OUT) March 26 – Fayetteville, AR – JJ’s Live March 27 – New Orleans, LA – Civic Theatre March 29 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live (SOLD OUT) March 30 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live (SOLD OUT) March 31 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues (SOLD OUT) April 2 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Heaven (SOLD OUT) April 3 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl (SOLD OUT) April 5 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz (SOLD OUT) April 6 – Richmond, VA – The National (SOLD OUT) April 7 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live (SOLD OUT) April 9 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place (SOLD OUT) April 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall April 12 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom (SOLD OUT) April 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount (SOLD OUT)
